Folding umbrella



Sep 14, 1965 D. E. KREACHBAUM 3,205,964

FOLDING UMBRELLA 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1962 INVENTOR.

DALE E. KREACHBAUM Sept. 14, 1965 KREACHBAUM 3,25

FOLDING UMBRELLA Filed Jan. 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DALE E. KREACHBAUM ATTORNEYS FOLDING UMBRELLA 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 23, 1962 a m/Z0 2 INVENTOR. DALE E. KREACHBAUM FIG. IO

jdmaau dzz ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,205,904 FOLDING UMBRELLA Dale E. Kreachbaum, 2301 Neil Ave., Columbus 1, Ohio Filed Jan. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 168,134 12 Claims. (Cl. 13519.5)

This invention relates to umbrellas and particularly to a folding type umbrella that can be compactly carried in a handbag or coat pocket.

In general, the umbrella of the present invention comprises a thin flexible sheet of plastic or other suitable material that includes a plurality of triangularly shaped 1sections that adjoin each other at radially extending fold mes.

The sheet is foldable about transverse major axes, along radially extending fold lines, and finally about short laterally extending axes such that the canopy of the umbrella is reduced in size to a very compact folded configuration.

The previously mentioned flexible sheet further includes a centrally located handle mounting means that carries a collapsible handle that can be reduced to a length no longer than the folded canopy portion.

In accordance with the present invention the flexible canopy is adapted to durably withstand the many folds required for compactness by the use of a flexible relatively strong uniquely located reinforcing strip.

As another aspect of the present invention, the flexible sheet that forms the canopy portion of the umbrella is provided with radially extending upstanding ribs that are alternately disposed on opposite surfaces of the canopy. Moreover, certain of the triangular sections disposed in either side of the previously mentioned major fold line are relatively wide to provide clearance for the previously mentioned upstanding ribs that are carried on the inwardly folded surface of the flexible canopy.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella that is fabricated and reinforced in a novel manner that permits multiple folding of a flexible canopy sheet without rupturing of the components thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described that includes a highly rigid canopy that results from a novel arrangement of upstanding ribs that alternately extend from opposite surfaces of the flexible sheet that forms the canopy.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a folding umbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the umbrella of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the umbrella;

FIG. 4 shows the umbrella in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 5 shows the umbrella in a second partially folded configuration;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the umbrella in a partially folded but expanded configuration;

FIG. 7 is a second diagrammatic view of the umbrella in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the umbrella in another partially folded configuration;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational View of the umbrella in a completely folded configuration;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of a handle mounting means and folded handle portion of the umbrella of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a partial edge view of the canopy of the umbrella showing a reinforcing rib construction.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an umbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention that includes a canopy indicated generally at 20, a handle mounting means indicated generally at 22, and a collapsible handle indicated generally at 24.

The canopy includes a flexible sheet 26 that comprises a plurality of triangular sections 28 that adjoin one another at a plurality of minor fold lines 30, first and second major fold lines 32 and 34, and secondary fold lines 36, 38, 4-0 and 42.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11, the flexible sheet 26 includes a plurality of upper and lower stiffener ribs, 46 and 58, which are formed by folding flexible sheet 26 and bonding the confronting surfaces at 44.

As an alternate method of fabrication, the entire sheet 26 may be formed by a plurality of triangular segments 28 bonded at surfaces 44 and terminating at joints 48.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, lower stiffener ribs 50 include inner triangular brace portions 52 that are progressively wider in a radially inwardly direction and which wrap around tubular members 56 or 58 and integrally join corresponding triangular brace portions on the other sides of the members. For example, brace portion 52-A is integral with brace portion 52-B and the junction thereof wraps around member 58 when the device is folded. See FIGS. 4 and 5.

Brace portions 52 are bonded at their extreme inner ends such that half are connected to tubular member 56 and the other half are connected to tubular member 53. The bonded junction of brace portions 52-A and 52-C, along fold line 32, as seen in FIG. 5, forms a hinge between the inner ends of members 56 and 58 by which these members may be closed, FIG. 2, or opened, FIG. 5.

It should further be pointed out that the outer triangular brace portions 52-A, 52-B, 52-C, and 52-D are either made thicker toward the center, or reinforced, as compared to the other triangular brace portions. This is important as the outer brace portions 52-A to D are under relative high stress during folding. At the same time the inner brace portions 52 are under relatively low stress and must be maintained thin for reasons of compactness after folding.

With reference to FIG. 10, rigid members 56 and 58 are shown in enlarged detail where it will be seen that a spring pressed male latch portion 60 is slideably mounted in a bore 62 and urged outwardly into latched engagement with a socket 64 in bracket 66 by a compression spring 63. Latch portion 60 includes an actuating pin 90 that extends outwardly through a longitudinal closed ended slot 92. When latch pin 60 is pressed inwardly beyond the confines of socket 64 the two rigid handle members can be spread apart from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 5.

As one important aspect of the umbrella major fold line 32, which ends up on the outside when the umbrella is reduced to the configuration of FIG. 8, is provided with a relatively strong flexible fold reinforcing strip 70 that makes possible folding of the umbrella without tearing flexible sheet 26 when the umbrella is folded from the configuration of FIG. 5 to the configuration of FIG. 8 and when it is further folded from the configuration of FIG. 8 to the configuration of FIG. 9.

As another important aspect of the present invention, flexible sheet 26 includes two major triangular sections and 82 that lie between major fold line 32 and secondary fold lines 40 and 4-2. These major sections are wider than the rest of the sections 28 to provide clearance for stiffener ribs 46 which face inwardly when the umbrella is partially folded in the configuration of FIG. 5. This feature is clearly illustrated in the diagrammatic view of FIG. 6.

' In operation, the umbrella is folded by bending the canopy into the configuration of FIG. 4 with the bends being made along secondary fold lines 36, 38, 40 and 42. The triangular sections are next collapsed, in the manner of an accordion, whereby the umbrella assumes the configuration of FIG. 5 with collapsible handle means 24 being disposed in the folded configuration.

The device is next folded along outer major fold line 32 and inner major fold line 34 as will be understood by considering FIGS. 5 and 8, the latter showing the device after the folding operation.

Finally, the umbrella in the configuration of FIG. 8 is folded a plurality of times along laterally extending axes 8d, 86 and 88 whereby the device assumes the completely folded configuration of FIG. 9. A tie strip 94 tending triangular sections, said sections being defined by two diametrically opposed radially extending major fold lines and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ribs along said minor fold lines circumferentially spaced between said two major fold lines, two of said sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider than the remaining sections; handle mounting means secured to the central portion of said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means.

2. A folding umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including two radially extending major fold lines and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines defining triangular sections, two of said adjacent sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider than the other of said sections; a thin flexible fold reinforcing strip secured to the under surface of said sheet along said one major fold line; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ribs along said minor fold lines; handle mounting means secured to the central portion of said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said stiffener ribs are alternately disposed on opposite Sidesof said thin flexible sheet.

4. A folding umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including two radially extending major fiold lines and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines defining triangular sections, two of said adjacent sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider than the other of said sections; a thin flexible fold rein-forcing strip secured to the under surface of said sheet along said one major fold line; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ribs along said minor fold lines, said stiffener ribs being alternately disposed on opposite sides of said thin flexible sheet; handle mounting means secured to the central portion of said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means.

5. A holding umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including a plurality of radially extend ing triangular sections, said sections being defined by two diametrically opposed radially extending major fold lines and a plurality of radially extending min-or fold lines circumf regtially spaced between said two major fold lines; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ribs along said minor fold lines, said stiffener ribs being alternately extended from opposite sides of said sheet; handle mounting means secured to the central portion of said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means, said flexible sheet being foldable by first folding half sections of said flexible sheet upwardly and inwardly to bring said triangular sections into coextensive flat configuration, by next folding sa id flexible sheet along said major fold lines, and by finally folding said flexible sheet a plurality of times along axes extending transversly of said major fo-ld lines, said stiffener ribs including inner brace portions on one side of said sheet that are progressively wider in a radially inward direction, said handle mounting means including a first rigid member, said stiflener ribs on one half of said flexible sheet being wrapped around said first rig-id member, said handle mounting means including a second rigid member, said stiffener ribs on the other half of said flexible sheet being wrapped around said second rigid memben 6. A fold-ing umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including a plurality of radially extending triangular sections, said sections being defined by two diametrically opposed radially extend-ing major fold lines and .a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ribs. along said minor fold lines circumferentially spaced between said two major fold lines, two of said sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider thanthe remaining sections; handle mounting means secured to the central portion of said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means, said stiffener ribs including inner brace portions on one side of said sheet that are progressively wider in a radially inward direction, said handle mounting means including a first rigid member, said stiffener ribs on one half of said flexible sheet being wrapped around said first rigid member, said handle mounting means including a second nigid member, said stiffener ribs on the other half of said flexible sheet being wrapped around said second rigid member.

"7. A folding umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including two radially extending major fold lines and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines defining triangular sections, two of said adjacent sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider than the other of said sections; a thin flexible fold reinforcing strip secured to the under surface of said sheet along said one major fold line; a plurality of upstanding stiffener ri'bs along said minor fold lines;

handle mounting meanssecured to the central portion of Said flexible sheet; and a collapsible handle carried by said handle mounting means, said stiffener ribs including inner brace portions on one side of said sheet that are progressively wider in a radially inward direction, said handle mounting means including a first rigid member, said stiffener ribs on one half of said flexible sheet being Wrapped around said first nigid member, said handle mountingmeans including a second rigid member, said stiff-ener ribs on the other half of said flexible sheet being wrapped around said second rigid member.

8. A folded umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including a plurality of triangular sec. tions, said [sections being defined by two diametrically opposed radially extending major fold lines, four radially extending secondary fold lines, one on each side of each of said two major fold lines, and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines, saidfold lines defining a plurality of radial extending triangular sections, two of said sections that are joined along one of said major fold lines being slightly wider than the remaining sections, sa d sheet being first folded, top surface inwardly, along sa d four secondary fold lines, secondly folded along said minor fold lines to bring said two major fold lines into coextensive relationship, thirdly fold-ed along said two major fold lines, and fourth-1y folded along a plurality of folds extending transversely to said major fold lines.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 that includes a flexible fold reinforcing strip secured to said flexible sheet along one of said major fold lines.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 8 that includes a plurality of stiffener ribs alternately extending from opposite sides of said flexible sheet.

'11. A folding umbrella comprising, in combination, a thin flexible sheet including two radially extending major fold lines and a plurality of radially extending minor fold lines de'fining triangular sections, two of said adjacent sections that are joined along one of said major fo l-d lines being slightly wider than the other of said sections; .a thin flexible fold reinforcing strip secured to the under surface of said sheet along said one major fold line; a plurality of upstanding stifiener ribs along said minor fold lines, said stiffener ribs including inner brace portions on one side of said sheet that are progressively wider in a radially inwardly direction, the inner brace portions adjacent said major fol-d line being thicker than the other of said inner brace portions.

:12. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said 6 sheet includes stiffener ribs forming inner brace portions that are progressively wider in a radially inwardly direction, the inner brace portions adjacent said two major :fold lines being thicker than the otherof said inner brace portion-s.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMP'E, JACOB L. NA OKENOFF,

Examiners. 

1. A FOLDING UMBRELLA COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A THIN FLEXIBLE SHEET INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING TRIANGULAR SECTIONS, SAID SECTIONS BEING DEFINED BY TWO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED RADIALLY EXTENDING MAJOR FOLD LINES AND A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING MINOR FOLD LINES; A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING STIFFENER RIBS ALONG SAID MINOR FOLD LINES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED BETWEEN SAID TWO MAJOR FOLD LINES, TWO OF SAID SECTIONS THAT ARE JOINED ALONG ONE OF SAID MAJOR FOLD LINES BEING SLIGHTLY WIDER 